BS 337 200417 LIVING IN TRUTH

Living in truth here means living truthfully, authentically in our everyday practical life. I have often heard expressions such as “my life is a search for truth; I am a searcher after truth”. Mahatma Gandhi’s well-known auto-biography is called “My Experiments with Truth”. The fact of the matter is that we do not need to search for truth; truth is always searching for us. We are born into the reality of truth; our life ends in the reality of death. As fish is surrounded by water we are surrounded by truth everywhere. All mental disorders, all problems of adjustment to life situations arise due to one’s inability in facing truth. We have a guilty conscience because we did not say or do what was true for us. We pretend to be someone we are not because we do not feel comfortable in letting people know who we really are. We do not want to tell people what we really think about them because we want to “protect” them, because we do not want to “hurt” them. In reality we do not want to lose their “good feelings” toward us. So we all keep on playing various games to protect one another while we all live a life of lie. Thus we lose our authenticity and genuineness. We lose the authority of our own being, in effect, our own integrity.The other day in a long phone conversation with a significant person who had some serious problems with his son, I took the risk of telling him that his son was doing to him in a more vicious way what he himself had done to a third party. He got upset with what I said, and cut the phone off. I reflected on what happened. After some time I called him back since he had approached me for some guidance. Soon after I called him, he started blurting things that I was not willing to hear. I told him that it was rude of him to cut the phone off, and that I wanted to give him a few suggestions related to handling his son positively, and that if he wanted to talk to me, he could call me back after I hang up the phone. He interrupted me rudely several times before I finished what I had to say. What does one do in such situations? Truth demands that one assertively sticks to one’s plan even though it would be too tempting to accommodate and placate. There is only one thing that we need to be concerned about: we respond out of empathy, and compassion, and not react impulsively out of our own hurts. I have often experienced in group therapy and other group meetings that some persons would not say what was own their minds for fear of not being in others’ good books.Whether we want to be open to the truth of our life, whether we want to accept the truth that stares in our face, and whether we want to break out of the deep programming that distorts reality/truth for us in many different ways is the most important question in our life. We do not need to search for truth as truth is always in us and with us. We need to live it joyously

About The Author

Dr. John K Thekkedam (Swami Snehananda Jyoti) spent most of his life as a clinical psychologist in USA. He began his public life as a Jesuit priest. Quite attracted in distinct philosophies, he left the society and founded 'East West Awakening'.

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A wealthy man pondered Jesus’ teaching on giving and he was deeply depressed by the whole thing. He prayed and prayed that he might be able to accept the teaching, but the more he prayed, the sadder he became. One day, when he was near despair, an angel came to comfort him. “Why are you so sad?” the angel asked him. “I am sad,” the man replied, “because of my master’s teaching on giving. Does it mean that I have to give again and again, and again, without any let up?”“Oh no, not at all,” said the angel. “You have to give only as long as God gives to you. If God ever stops giving to you, then you won’t have to continue to give to others. God will continue to give to you – except in much greater abundance than you could ever give.” God gives me nothing just for myself. He doesn’t give me the gift of speech, for instance, to go around talking to myself.What comes down from God must go sideways to others – otherwise it stops coming – like the spring in the well. This applies to love, forgiveness, compassion, etc.

For about the last 11 years I have been back in India to specially focus on my mission of service to promote Unity of Humanity and Amity among Religions, I have been building structures for the Ashram inmates and those who, with similar visions, visit us and stay with us. While I work with an architect for the soundness of the structures, I modify the flexible aspects of the designs for functionality, Vastu (law of nature for health and prosperity), and aestheticism. The basics of salvation for all humans have been designed by the Great Architect (God) right from the beginning of creation. We humans can work on the non-essential, flexible elements to suit us. Anyone can reach God and God-realization. Only honesty, sincerity, and rigorous and faithful following of one’s conscience are needed. That means no religion is needed to reach God. The basics that we all need to keep in mind are: There is only one God for humanity; we are all brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of this one God. God created all to be saved, and to enjoy the beatific vision of God. The most precious gift of freedom that God gave us can create problems that can come in the way of salvation. But then the remedy of repentance and reconciliation is given to us.to make reparation and amends. God also asks us to love God whole-heartedly and to love all humans as we love ourselves. Loving God is easy; loving humans is difficult. But loving humans is easy if we keep in mind that we do not have to like them to love them.Flexible elements of our salvation that can certainly help and facilitate our spiritual and social well-being are healthy religions, sound cultures, good rituals and traditions. We need to thoroughly scrutinize them all for helpfulness, usefulness, promotion of good will, peace, friendship, and overall efficacy. All the sages, seers, and prophets like Buddha, Christ, and Sankaracharya (the great organizer of Hinduism, the Sanatan Dharma), around whom great religions originated and developed had great faith in God, were non-violent, and promoted inner conversion (metanoia) and God-realization.or self-realiztion They modeled life for humanity. The teachings of Buddha, Christ, and Sankaracharya cover the entire spectrum of human thinking and life, namely, atheism, theism, immanence, transcendence, and oneness of God and human). We need to take our own religions seriously and examine them thoroughly and impartially. We need to take good elements from other religions. All good elements anywhere come from the Holy Spirit who is the spirit of God. We need to change our religions if our religions do not help us to live morally and spiritually. We may need to change our religions if they violate basic human rights or interfere with our life that is lived according to our conscience, and our consciously adopted value system. Some paths and directions are easier, more practical, more meaningful and more pleasing. All that is required on our part is determined effort (sadhana), ceaseless and intense devotion, a sharpened conscience, affective detachment, and purity of intention.

During the Great Depression in America, a government agency had the task of travelling through backward mountain areas, in search of poor farmers, to whom they gave some grant of money for the purchase of seed, or repairing their homes. One agent came upon an old woman living in a shack. It had no floor. Several windows were broken and covered over with tar paper. The old woman had but the basic essentials, and was just barely scratching out a living on a miserable plot of land.The agent said to her, “If the government gave you $200, what would you do with it?” Her instant answer was: “I’d give it to the poor.” It is a mistake for a religious to think of money as riches. In spite of the lack of it this good woman does not consider herself poor. Millions of good people are really rich, while having little money. On the other hand, one could have plenty of money, and be really poor.

One time a group of people came to Abraham Lincoln to discuss something that had been causing some trouble. Their arguments were not based on facts but on suppositions. After listening for a while, Lincoln asked, “How many legs would a sheep have, if you called its tail a leg?” “Five” was the reply. “No,” said Lincoln, “it wouldn’t; it would only have four. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it one.” Our fears, likewise, many a time are based on suppositions and unrealistic assumptions rather than on facts.

‘The third of this socio-economic development agenda is ‘working for agrarian reforms with focus on small and marginal farmers and promoting natural farming methods using modern technologies, and working to ensure appropriate prices for agricultural products based on the costs of production’. India is an agrarian country. Most of our farmers are holders of small plots of agricultural land. We need to make agriculture a profitable occupation. We also need to recognize the important national service our farmers are rendering by producing food items without which we cannot survive. We can survive without our politicians and government servants, but not without our farmers. But we give more importance to the politicians and government servants than to the farmers who provide us with food for our survival……‘The fourth agenda is ‘working to ensure affordable quality primary school education for all children in India. Education is the basis of nation-building. We have the largest number of illiterates on earth. We cannot build a great new India with illiterate human resources….‘We need to learn from countries like Japan, Germany and China. All these countries have become global economic powers by giving great importance to education and human resources development. Technical education and scientific development are very essential requirements for nation-building. So is the knowledge of Enligsh language today. English language is essential for development of Information Technology and scientific knowledge. India has to become a global power. She has a global mission to fulfill. This will be possible only by giving importance to Enlish language and scientific development in our education system….‘In the multi-liguisitc context of India, English has also been serving as the common link. Without this national and global link language India cannot survive and grow as a living force ….‘But first of all we need to focus on quality primary education for all children. This is by far the most important nation-building agenda. But this is also one of the most neglected areas in Independent India. All educated Indian citizens, especially senior citizens can take up the responsibility of educating one child. ‘Each One – Teach One’ has been a successful programme at many places in India…‘Fifth of this nine-point agenda is ‘working to protect the life of all Indian citizens and the ecological harmony of Mother India’. Every life is precious, not only the lives of the rich and the powerful…The lives of the poor and homeless Indian citizens are also equally precious and important. They are also children of God and citizens of the Indian Republic…. ‘Ecological health and harmony are very important requirements for the healthy existence of all living beings on this planet. Mother Earth is our common mother. We need to protect and preserve her health and vitality if we desire to lead a healthy and happy life on earth which is our one and only common planetary home in space. ‘Sustainable development’ can never be achieved at the cost of ecological health and harmony….‘The sixth agenda is ‘working to promote effective governance and decentralization of authority and resources, and empowering Gram Panchayats, Gram Sabhas, Gram Adalats and other Panchayati Raj Institutions, and channelising our endeavors to contain corruption in public life and Government’. This decentralization, as we have already seen, is at the core of the ENP ideology of ‘Democratic Federalism’….‘The seventh of our developmental agenda, my son, is ‘working to empower youth and women to become nation-builders’. The Youth are our hope and most precious wealth. The future of the nation is their legacy. Empower them to build a great new India. This is our most important nation-building task today….. ‘Also, remember my son, Mother India’s future is in the hands of mothers in India. Great mothers give birth to great men and women who build great nations and great civilizations. By empowering the women in India we will achieve great and far-reaching goals. All women are mothers or potential mothers….‘The eighth of my Gandhian Navaratna is ‘working to promote Responsible Citizenship and Value Education, and protecting the girl child’. Education is the basis of human development and national regeneration. ‘Character-building’ is the most important goal of education. Developing responsible citizenship consciousness and commitment to non-violence in our youth are also very important objectives of education. This can be achieved through ‘Peace and Value Education’ that can be taken up by all competent and responsible citizens, especially the well-educated and well-experienced senior citizens in the country who are retired from active employment. This will also provide an opportunity to these senior citizens to show their gratitude to Mother India for what they have received from her bounty… ‘It is a tragedy that in India we speak very highly about women, yet,as we have seen, many families in the country mourn the birth of a girl child. Many even try to get rid of girl children, or kill them before they are born. We need to save and protect our female children with great love. They are potential mothers. They are the most precious gifts of God for the very survival of human race on planet earth……‘And the last and ninth of this common minimum agenda for nation-building is ‘working to provide loving care and grateful services to poor and old Indian citizens, especially to poor and old farmers in India….

Theology is the knowledge about God. Since God is the object of faith, theology presupposes faith. Faith, hope, and love are the three prime theological virtues. Any theology is sheer speculation and anthropomorphic as God is beyond human understanding. The new theology is built on the good elements of the old theology. The old theology developed according to the needs of the time. For instance, the divine right of kings was developed to protect monarchs; infallibility and primacy were proclaimed to protect the power and authority of popes; the dogmas of immaculate conception and assumption of Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, were defined to show the unique intercessory and mediatory power of Mary in salvation.as well as the importance of virginity and celibacy; the original sin was conceived to indicate the status of fallen humanity through disobedience and sin of first parents and the need for a redeemer; eternal damnation into hell indicates the punishment that altogether cuts out one’s relationship with God due to the gravity of even one mortal sin. The Yahweh (God) of the Old Testament who had Jews as the chosen people was a jealous God who had to evolve to be the God and Father of Christ.It is important to vigorously examine the old ways, simplify life, and keep only what is essential and good. Most of the concepts of the old theology arose in certain historical contexts, and are not needed for salvation. God does not discriminate against any human being, and does not create a chosen people. God gives what is necessary for life including salvation right from the moment of creation. God has provided the corrective interventions required through prophets, seers, and sages right from the beginning. Human beings cannot ultimately thwart God’s plan. All-loving, compassionate, and merciful God will not subject any of God’s children to eternal condemnation and damnation. Original sin comes only from our ability to choose good and evil because the most precious gift of freedom God has given us. This freedom is what makes us humans. What is construed as original sin is nothing but original limitation only for those who choose evil. In creation it is important to know good and evil through trial and error. For instance, some people have died in the beginning by eating inedible or poisonous mushrooms (toadstools) before distinguishing the good, edible mushrooms. Nobody wanted to die, but it just happened. God has put within us a powerful God’s presence that we can call conscience, and that, once trained, can guide us to do the right thing, and to follow God’s will. Only knowingly abusing or misusing our freedom will get us into evil. There is repentance to correct our ways. Our sincerity will determine the kind of our repentance. Even when we viciously follow our evil ways, God looks for us and wait for us to repent, and return to God and the human family as in the case of the Prodigal Son. It is unthinkable that God will sever our connection with him eternally. There could be some center of purification for any sin (a modified purgatory?) or a chain of re-births until one reaches the level of perfection necessary for release from rebirths.Divine right of kings is gone. Kings and queens are signs of undeveloped humanity and will be gone forever as humanity develops. The least the power is used, even in a legally constituted authority in a democracy, the better. Paradise on earth truly begins when democracy grows to its perfection. We have this one planet that we need to save it for ourselves and our posterity. We can do it for humanity without the interference of narcissistic, immoral autocrats. They are like Hitler trying to manipulate, exploit, and bend the will of weak, fragile, and undiscerning humanity to their self-centered hedonistic endsOur Savior, Christ, can be the Model Par Excellence. The Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God and Christ is also our own spirit, and guides us through our own conscience. The rest can be taken care of by a generous amount of deep faith, hope, and love. Pope is a human being, represents Christ, and is selected for holiness. He does not need infallibility or primacy. He does not need power and pelf. He is the servant of servants in the Kingdom of God. He does not figure in the power structure of this world as he model power, that is holiness, for the Kingdom of God. A pope can also be a woman. It is high time that we dismantle the hierarchical power structure inherited from the Roman Empire after the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the fourth century. Men and women can be priests; celibates, married men and women can be priests. Priests coming from among people are not a special class. Their authority comes from within from the spirit of service of the community. They should be chosen for their willingness to serve selflessly and their ability to model God experience. Mary is the mother of historical Jesus, and we venerate her as our own mother as we are brothers and sisters of Jesus. She is not the mother of God or Christ the Logos. We are not sinners but children of God.In the context of this new theology I want to comment briefly, especially, on what is happening with regard to demonic possessions. Many Protestants and Catholics are enamored by demonic possession. Many popular Catholic retreat preachers in Kerala (India), who are priests and lay persons, are ill-trained in theology, and go about “delivering” naïve Catholic followers from the power and sway of Demon (bandhanam). Their worldly eloquence and long-winded preaching stir up and win over unenlightened persons with borderline mental adjustment. They do disservice to the solid teachings of Christ; they themselves need to be delivered from demons. Christ has said that the power of this world has no influence over him (John 14: 30). The consumer culture is the mighty power (demon) that has such controlling influence over humans in the modern age. But the one who truly follows the teachings of Christ does not have to be concerned about any demonic power. A new theology of hope and love will take care of all one’s needs with regard to salvation

A ten year old boy was working in a factory in Naples, before present laws on child labor were put in place. His mother was convinced that he had a good singing voice, and by working in the factory he could earn money to pay for music lessons. His first music teacher, however, told him he did not have what it takes to be a musician, and it would be a waste of time and money to pursue the idea any further. The boy’s mother, a poor peasant woman was not so easily put off. She encouraged her son, she told him that she believed he had talent, and she even went bare-footed, rather than buy shoes, so as to save money for his music lessons. Her trust and sacrifices bore fruit, and her son, Enrico Caruso, became one of the world’s greatest tenors ever. Keep going and don’t leave before the miracle happens! The miracle happens for those who show God that they are serious about what they are seeking.

The Great Wall of China is one of the wonders of the world. It is said to be the only man made structure on earth that can be seen from the moon. The cost and the effort that went into building it just boggles the mind.When it was finished, the people relaxed. They knew they were safe. Nobody could possibly attack them now. It was impossible to either climb over or penetrate their superb protecting wall, behind which they were safe.But their enemies got through easily. How? They simply bribed one of the gatekeepers! He opened the gate and they came through unhindered.So much for the best laid plans of men! The problem is, there is something of an “enemy within” in all of us.

‘What is this Gandhian Talisman? Do you know?’ Guru asked Atma Prakash.‘Yes, guruji. Let me quote Gandhiji’s own words: “I give you a Talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, you apply the following test. Recollect the face of the poorest and weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubt and your self melting away.” ‘Very good’ the Baba congratulated his disciple and continued:‘This means that we need to always keep the last and least in front of us when we make our plans and policies for national development…‘I have termed the common minimum socio-economic development agenda as ‘Gandhian Navaratna’ because it is a nine-point agenda based on this Gandhian Talisman. …‘Originally the term ‘Navaratna’ meant a talisman or ornament composed of nine precious gems. Later on this term was adopted by Emperor Vikramaditya and Emperor Akbar to represent nine outstanding men in their courts. In 1997 this term was adopted by the Government of India to represent nine Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) that could compete in the global market . They were given greater autonomy and support by the Government. These PSEs were supposed to build the economy of India. This model of development has not helped much in the development of the last and the least in the country ….‘70% of Indian population still lives in the villages. Real India is rural India. True development of India is to be measured in terms of the living conditions of the last and the least in the villages of India. That is why Gandhiji gave us a Talisman. I believe this is something precious for India. That is why I have used the term ‘Gandhian Navaratna’ for the nine-point socio-economic development agenda of ENP…..‘This Gandhian Navaratna consists of the following nine-point socio-economic development agenda for all responsible and patriotic citizens of India to take up and promote. It is not a suggested plan for the Government or ruling political parties to implement. Of course the Government and ruling political parties can and should take it up. But the Gandhian Navaratna is basically a plan of action for nation-building in which all India-loving citizens, religious communities, NGOs, political parties, civil society groups etc. are invited to take active part and make it their own. It is a plan of action with its focus on the last and the least in the country inspired by the Talisman given by Mahatma Gandhi….‘The first of this agenda is ‘working to ensure food and water security for all citizens of India’. Food and water are basic necessities of life…Without them life will be impossible. More than 30% of India’s 127 crore population are living below poverty line, without being able to eat one nourishing meal a day and without hygienic drinking water. They are also our own brothers and sisters, our own children and parents. We need to work to ensure that they are provided with basic food and water security. This is hundred times more important to India today than providing our political leaders with ‘Z – Category’ security.….‘The second is ‘working to ensure employment opportunities, and land and livelihood rights for all citizens of India’. We do not want a ‘banana republic’ built on charity, freebies and subsidies…. What we want is employment opportunities to earn our livelihood with dignity and with our own labour. We also want the land and livelihood rights of all citizens of India to be upheld and respected. Every one of us need a small house of our own to live in. 200 million Indian citizens have no place of their own to lay down their heads ……… (To be continued)Excerpts from ‘Integral Revolution

Mulla Nasruddin’s house was on fire, so he ran up to his roof for safety. There he was, precariously perched on the roof, when his friends gathered in the street below holding a stretched out blanket to him and shouting, “Jump, Mullah, jump!”“Oh no, I won’t,” said the Mullah. “I know you fellows. If I jump, you’ll pull the blanket away just to make a fool of me!”“Don’t be silly. Mullah. This isn’t a joke. This is serious. Jump!”“No,” said Nasruddin. “I don’t trust any of you. Lay that blanket on the ground and I’ll jump.” – – Antony de Mellow Believing or trusting everybody is dangerous; but believing or trusting nobody at any time is extremely dangerous.